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Downton Abbey Recap: Mourning Lady Sybil's Tragic Death

by
Christina Dowling
Thu., Mar. 18, 2004 2:40 PM PST

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Joss Barratt/Carnival Film & Television

It's been a tough week for Downton Abbey fans. We are still in mourning for Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay) while trying to work through the stages of grief. Apparently bargaining with the TV gods for a miraculous resurrection just doesn't work. So how is the family coping post-tragedy?

WHAT WE LEARNED

Life Without Sybil: Grieving widower Tom Branson (Allen Leech) really has to stand his ground against his father-in-law. We have had plenty of evidence of how anti-Catholic Robert (Hugh Bonneville) is, so obviously he was flabbergasted when he found out his only grandchild would be baptized Roman Catholic. The horror! He also has some pretty strong opinions on naming the baby after her mother as well. Oh just go away, Robert. We really can't blame Tom for wanting to get out of Dodge with his daughter, even if that means moving to Liverpool.

Just the Worst: It might be the sorrow talking, but we aren't ready to forgive Robert just yet. In fact we cheered when all of the Crawley ladies refused to leave luncheon. (Everyone likes pudding.) However, the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) wants Robert and Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) to kiss and make up. We are pretty horrified that Violet couldn't just let Cora grieve her daughter in peace; instead she enlists Dr. Clarkson (David Robb) to tell her that Sybil wouldn't have survived in any scenario. Um, Dr. Clarkson that's not what you were preaching last week. Seriously, it wouldn't kill Robert to sleep in his dressing room and eat crow for another few weeks. Robert gets off the hook so easily it makes us rage inside.

Lessons in Frolicking: It's very amusing to us that Carson (Jim Carter) is terribly concerned with former working girl, Ethel (Amy Nuttall) potentially corrupting Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol) and Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan). Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Patmore are downstairs' two most sassy ladies, so we think they are safe from opening up a brothel on the side.

Locked Up Abroad: Oh joy, all of Bates' (Brendan Coyle) walking in circles in a grey hell has finally paid off. Detective Anna (Joanne Froggatt) and the lawyer got the neighbor of the evil Mrs. Bates to change her testimony. Justice prevails and Bates will soon be back in Downton.

A New Face: If a Catholic baptism won't give Lord Grantham a heart attack another Irish Branson in Downton just might. You thought Tom's dinner antics at the start of the season were shocking? Just wait until you meet Tom's brother.

At Odds: Robert is butting heads with everyone these days, but Matthew (Dan Stevens) makes a pretty step to help rectify Downton's mismanagement. Needless to say Robert will resist inevitable change.

Extra Valet: With Bates' imminent return to Downton and to work, Robert has an excess of valets. But losing his job is not the worst news for Thomas (Rob James-Collier), in fact next week O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran) ramps up her revenge in a pretty awful way. Don't mess with that lady.

Downton's Future: Beware spoilers ahead! If you spend your days looking for everything and anything Downton related, you probably already heard about Downton's other shocking death. Matthew's death will send season four into "a whole different direction" and we watch Mary cope.

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Do you think Cora was right to forgive Robert so quickly? Think naming the baby after Sybil was the right choice? Happy to finally see Bates make his jail break? Sound off in the comments!

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